School Enrollment Tops Projections

OLD SAYBROOK — Enrollment in the town's schools is steadily rising, and, as in many districts across the state, the bulk of this year's growth is being seen at the elementary school.

Superintendent of Schools Sal Pascarella gave a report on the school district's latest enrollment figures to the board of education this week.

Total enrollment in the town's three schools as of Oct. 1 was 1,478 students, a 2.25 percent over the previous year.

The total enrollment on Oct. 1, 1997 was 1,369 students.

The biggest increase this year was felt at the Kathleen E. Goodwin Elementary School, which gained 44 students, an 8.1 percent increase over last year's total.

Goodwin's enrollment is now 526 students. The school had to add one additional section to its kindergarten, after the district's budgeting process had already been completed, to accommodate the influx.

Overall, educators had been projecting an enrollment of 1,454 students this year. The actual total ran 24 students over the projection.

The middle school has a total of 544 students, and the high school has 408 students.

Administrators and the school board have been studying enrollment trends and the demand that will be placed on the schools.

``We anticipate growth in the district, and we are looking at the options,'' said board Chairman Jan Murray. ``We've been doing extensive facilities studies.''

A recent enrollment impact report commissioned by the board predicts that enrollment will continue to rise.

The board has put together a facilities committee to assess school space and educational needs in the schools.

The schools are in the midst of a push to improve what school officials call their neglected buildings and facilities.